Above average

Average

Below average

Poor

I was so stressed out watching this, knowing what was coming. And it was absolutely horrible. The only time I've wished I hadn't read the books because the shock would have been so huge. Very tightly done episode. Tragedy all round.

The storyline would have been much more effective if Robb's betrayal of his vow came at the prodding of Tywin's machinations as in the books, rather than his own stupidity. Considering they gutted most of the buildup, I think it was about as solid a climax as one could hope for. Dany's victory on the other hand felt almost like filler.

I was hoping to see Lady Stark reunited with her kids, and also make peace with Jon Snow (espeically after the story she told about Jon Snow to Talisa).

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Then you sir, are watching the wrong show. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that in Game of Thrones, it's best not to get too attached to certain characters and to not expect things to turn out how it looks like they're being set up.

Personally, I've been dreading the red wedding since the start of the season and knowing it was coming didn't make it any less shocking.

*Really* looking forward to the next episode. Those who have read the books should be able to guess why.

After the show fucked up the Tyrion/Sansa wedding entirely last episode I had zero hope for the handing of the Red Wedding but it worked very well. Roose Bolton was the clear badass of this episode. One of my favourites in the books.

Glad to see Catelyn gone as she doesn't resemble her book counterpart at all.

That was devastating. Generally speaking the changes the show makes to the source material are problematic; the handling of the Robb/Catelyn storyline since the end of season one is the biggest example. But the invented stuff here-- Bolton and Catelyn, Arya and Grey Wind, Talisa-- was very visually effective. And gosh, Michelle Fairley is extraordinary. The failure to properly set up the Freys and the Boltons over the course of the season turns out not to matter much, at least on a visceral level.

Not sure if I want to carry on watching this show anymore. Just seems like a waste of an entire season of their storyline to have such a brutal ending.

I'm not a fan of overly violent shows or movies, and I think this is enough for me.

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Funny you said that - I told my partner exactly the same thing.

He has read the books and he has warned me there is still a lot more to come and not to expect bad things to happen to bad people. Even worse, he has hinted at the general "soap opera" nature of the series with storylines spinning out with nary a chance of resolution being possible.

I don't know what scares me more - more vile stuff happening to good people or AGoT becoming "Home and Away".

It all smacks to me of Martin being a sadist/attention whore who wants to just be all counter and shock his readers/audience - "Look at me! I can write a book where good DOES NOT triumph and evil sometimes wins!"

Stick to cookie cutter dumb shit like Star Trek Into Darkness if you want shallow clean cut battles of Good vs Evil where the ending of the story is obvious 5 minutes in. George RR Martin strives for a more realistic, unpredicable approach, without the line between good and evil being drawn. It's what makes the series so refreshing. My favourite characters are Melisandre, Jaime, Stannis and Roose. All of which have done atrocious things. It's the charm of the series.

Robb and Catelyn were nobody's favourites so I doubt anybody will quit watching. If they'd killed Tyrion, Jaime and Arya in the same scene then maybe

The Gendry leeches were kinda dumb. Though was that in 3x08? I watched the most recent 3 in a row tonight.

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And yet, a highly significant and symbolic act that sets many things in motion...3 things to be precise...

I, too, marveled at the shocking nature of this episode, despite having read the books. Yes, the Robb/Talissa/Cat scenes were somewhat muddy leading up to the RW, but all seemed quickly rectified in the end, with the other inaccuracies all but forgotten. LOTS of people should be getting some awards for this one. Rated excellent...